Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 27 September 2023
70. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform the estimated number of deer in the Phoenix Park annually from 2010 to date and the number culled by the OPW for each year, in tabular form. [41836/23]
View answerThe Office of Public Works manages the deer herd in line with advice from Department of Agriculture, Food and Marine (Deer Management in Ireland a Framework for Action – 2015) and the Laboratory of Wildlife Ecology and Behaviour, School of Biology & Environmental Science, at University College Dublin. The OPW is also a member of the Irish Deer Society and received the John Nicholson Perpetual Trophy in 2016 for its management of the Phoenix Park herd.
The current herd size is at a stable and sustainable level for the Phoenix Park. The deer population in the Park is actively managed to keep the herd at a sustainable size. Attempting to maintain too many deer within a restricted park area such as Phoenix Park would soon lead to a number of problems such as:
• Build-up of parasites and other pathogens causing disease in the deer;
• Overgrazing of grasslands leading to scarcity of food and more animals would ultimately suffer;
• Potential impact on diverse range of habitats;
• Potential animal welfare issues such as low body fat, malnutrition and high incidence of death from exposure to cold in winter.
The population size and structure of the herd is monitored by University College Dublin, Laboratory of Wildlife Ecology and Behaviour on a monthly basis, particularly over the summer when fawns are born. Population structure (distribution of age and sex classes) is monitored to verify whether population parameters are similar to other European populations of fallow deer for which we have reliable data.
Since 2018, data is gathered on the herd size from March to September each year and a population estimate of the herd is taken in September each year. The population of the herd is listed in the table attached for the years 2018-2022. From 2010, the herd was maintained at approximately 650 animals. The population estimates for 2023 are not available at this time but will be similar to 2022. Also attached is a table showing the numbers of deer culled in the Phoenix Park from 2010 to date.
|
Year |
Total Deer Culled |
Estimated Deer Population |
|
2023 |
21 |
N/A |
|
2022 |
51 |
631 |
|
2021 |
57 |
664 |
|
2020 |
95 |
660 |
|
2019 |
74 |
696 |
|
2018 |
60 |
718 |
|
2017 |
100 |
|
|
2016 |
111 |
|
|
2015 |
0 |
|
|
2014 |
26 |
|
|
2013 |
91 |
|
|
2012 |
95 |
|
|
2011 |
95 |
|
|
2010 |
95 |
